cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/21294172

Julia Conley
Oct 11, 2024

  • woodenghost [comrade/them]
    ·
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    Yes and also, nuclear power is really expensive. No one would ever invest in it without state help. No one insures it. The cost per watt is way to high and set to rise further with depleting uranium deposits. And much much higher, if it was mined in a slightly less destructive and exploitive way. Higher still if security precautions were forced to be up to date. Incredibly high, if waste was properly taken care of and the costs included in the calculation.

    Nuclear power was never profitable. The only reason it ever gets founded is because governments are motivated by the urge to amass more and more deadly nuclear weapons. Or keep that option open. Or to feed the industrial complex that grew around that.

    It's the most roundaboud, stupid and primitive way to go about creating electricity to collect rare ultra poisonous, slightly warm rocks, throw enough of them into water until it boils and push that through something similar to a steam engine. All the technology around it is just to keep the rocks from poisoning us too quickly.

    Compare that to all the genuine novel research that goes into solar and batteries. The advanced materials like complex semi conductor alloys. The clever techniques using the latest in quantum and nano technology. How they squeeze every bit of efficiency out of remotely collecting energy from the nuclear fusion in the sun, that's already going on for free and at a save distance.

    Nuclear energy on earth is superfluous, dangerous and expensive and every month new advancements are made in solar and battery and other genuinely green technologies, that make them even better and cheaper and widen the gap even more. And of course China is investing heavily in both solar and battery research.

    • Maeve@lemmygrad.ml
      ·
      2 months ago

      Yes and also, nuclear power is really expensive. No one would ever invest in it without state help. No one insures it. The cost per watt is way to high and set to rise further with depleting uranium deposits. And much much higher, if it was mined in a slightly less destructive and exploitive way. Higher still if security precautions were forced to be up to date. Incredibly high, if waste was properly taken care of and the costs included in the calculation.

      My dear friend, are you suggesting we masses have been sold lies?! Can you point me in the direction of more information, please?

      Nuclear power was never profitable. The only reason it ever gets founded is because governments are motivated by the urge to amass more and more deadly nuclear weapons. Or keep that option open. Or to feed the industrial complex that grew around that.

      The knee jerk cynic in me would be inclined to agree, but I'm very ignorant of the facts.

      Compare that to all the genuine novel research that goes into solar and batteries. The advanced materials like complex semi conductor alloys. The clever techniques using the latest in quantum and nano technology. How they squeeze every bit of efficiency out of remotely collecting energy from the nuclear fusion in the sun, that’s already going on for free and at a save distance.

      Digging up elements in general has problems. I'm ok with less problematic solutions but don't want to delude myself that it's more humane, and identifying problems can help us correct. I'm not knocking your solution, either. It feels more correct (yep, vibes, I really need more quality information. That's why I'm here).

      I'm very interested in Chinese innovation, strengths, weaknesses and risks. It speaks for itself that my government is quick to dismiss, demonize and try to isolate China. It makes me more curious. After all, in the old fables, the serpent told the material truth. I'm getting too big for my britches here, let me leave well enough alone until I'm more informed.